Meter and signal for moving-picture reels



May 19, v192a. I 1,538,510

' F. BONK, JR

METER AND SIGNAL FOR MOVING PICTURE HEELS FileiiJan. 27. 1922 @MWs m/ Fr31111 Bank fir.

a simple device which may be easily at Patented May 19, 1925.

3 UNLITEDfSTAT ES v 11,538,510 PATENTV'OFFICE.

1 FRANK BonK, an, or 'RIPON, WISCONSIN.

METER, AND SIGNAL son Momma-PICTURE Rants.

' Application filed January 27, 1922. Serial No. 532,341.

meter and signal device which is adapted to be attached to theuppermagazine of a moving picture machine to 'indicate how many feet of filmstill remain inthe magazine, and to give an audible signal when theamount of film has become reduced to a predeterminedPoint. i i i 1 Inoperating the usual moving picture machine it is necessary for theoperator to open the magazine from time to time to determine how muchfilm is left on the roll, and if his attention is diverted for a time,it often happens that the film is run out before hehas another reelready for operation. This causes a discontinuity in the picture andconsequent annoyance to the spectators.

The object of my invention is to provide taohed to the magazine, and maybe readily observed by the operator so that he will know at all timesjust how much film there is leftv in the magazine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal which may beset at any predetermined point, and will be actuated to produce anaudible signal when'the amount of film reaches that point. The signal isto be set at a point which will givethe operator plenty of time to getthe next reel ready, so that the picture may continue without anyappreciable interruption.

With the above objects in view, my invention consists in certain detailsof con struction which, are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 representsa rear elevation of my invention attached tothe uppermagazine, parts being broken away to better illustrate the detailsof theinvention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of my invention detached, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

-Referring specificallyto the drawing, the numeral l' indicates theupper magazine of left in the magazine.

i a moving picture machine, .and 2. indicates the roll of film "which isbeing unwound.

My device comprises a casing 3, which is I formed with side channels aand 5, andis provided with a. h1g6 at its base, which may be attached tothe periphery of the magazine, as indicated in Figure l.

A bar 7 is mounted to slide in the channel or guideway 4t and projectsthrough a .hole 8 provided for the purpose in the magazine 1.

A roller 9 is providedat the lower end of the bar 7, and rides along theperiphery of the roll 2, asthe latter is rotated.

Aclip 10 is attached to the bar 7 near its upper end,and is bentaroundthe outer side of the channel 4, and provided with an indicatingpoint 11, which extends in front of the casing 3 and in connection withthe graduations 1.2 on the front of the casing indicates the number offeet of film still A block 13 is mounted in the channel 5 and carries abell 1 1, which is attached theretoby means of the arm 15. An indicator16 is also attached to the block 13, and in connection with the setscrew 17 serves to secure the bell atany point to which it maybeadjusted. A striker 18 is pivotally connected with the block 13 and isprovided with a heel 19, which is urged in one direction by the spring20, and is moved in the other direction by the trip arm 21, carried bythe clip 10 when the latter rides downwardly past the signal device. Abow spring 22 is provided in the casing 23 near its upper end. When anew reel is being placed in the magazine, therefore, the bar 7 may beraised to its upper-most position, and the clip 10 will. be held by thespring 22 out of the way, while the new reel is being put in.

It will be understood that the bell may be adjusted at any pointdesired. For example, as shown in Figure 2, it is adjusted at fourhundred, consequentlyv when the number of feet remaining in the magazinereaches four hundred, the trip arm21 will move past the heel of thestriker, and cause the latter to produce an audible signal. While thelast four hundred feet are being run off, the operator may get the nextreel ready. 1 i

lVhile I have shown the casing 3 graduated fb r a two thousand footfilm, it willv be understood that this. graduation is only illustrativeand asecond graduation, for in guideway therein, means for attachingsaid casing 'to the film magazine ot a moving picture machine, a barslid-able in said guideway and havinga rolleron one end and adapted toextend through the wall of the magazine with the roller contacting withthe surface of the film roll therein, an indicator attached to the barand extending outside of the casing and a scale on the casing providedwith numbers so graduated that the number opposite the indicator willindicate the amount of film on the roll.

2. An indicating device comprising an elongated casing, having alongitudinal guideway therein, a bar slidable in said guideway, anindicator attached to the bar and extending outside the casing, a signaldevice adjustablelongitndinally of the casing, and means carried by theindicator for operating the signal device when the indicator moves pastthe same.

An indicating device comprising an elongated casing having alongitudinal guideway therein, means for attaching said casing to thefilm magazine of a moving picture machine, a bar slidable in saidguideway and having a roller on one end and adapted to extend throughthe wall of the magazine with the roller contacting with the surface ofthe lilrn roll therein, an indicator attached to the bar and extendingoutside of the casing and a scale on the casing provided with numbers sograduated that the number opposite the indicator will indicate theamount of film on the roll, a signal device adjustable longitudinally ofthe casing, means carried by the indicator for operating the signal whenthe indicator moves past the point for which the signal is set, andmeans for securing the bar in its outermost position while anew iihnroll is being inserted.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand athipon, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of Wisconsin.

FRANK BUNK,

